Cathead and spinning drum assembly



Oct. 27, 1942. B. F. KELLEY 2,300,122

CATHEAD AND SPINNING DRUM ASSEMBLY Filed March 25, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l q INVENTOR iTToRNs-N 1 Oct. 27, 1942. I KELLEY 2,300,122

CATHEAD AND SPINNING DRUM ASSEMBLY Filed March 25, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 9' 36 52 J ZN Z8 27 4? 40 is '2' 7 4 (Z52 A? 25 3 v.

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13 l l I 73 92 n 8/ y; O z I 14 I 98 7 7? l /0/ T 0 /20 m2 INVENTOR Ber/jam f. Kelly ATTdRNEY Oct. 27; 1942.

'B. F. KELL-EY 2,300,122

CATHEAD AND SPINNING DRUM ASSEMBLY Filed March 23, .1939 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jay 5. w

/57 /53 5 I36 /6/ I87 I40 A OR'NEY Patented Oct. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,300,122 oa'rnmn AND SPINNINGJDRUMASSEMBLY Benjamin F. Kelley, Tulsa, Okla. Application March 23, 1939, Serial No. 263,628 10 Claims. (01.254-1185) This invention relates to a draw-works such as used in well drilling rigs and particularly to a combination cathead and spinner drum therefor.

In rotary well drilling practice, the drill pipe is pulled from andrun into the well-hole in stands,

the joints of which are broken and made up under power applied through a spinning rope wound upon the cathead of the draw-works. Operation of the spinning rope is considered very dangerous due to the fact that the work is accomplished by hand wrapping of the spinning rope around the surface of the cathead with the operator pulling on the end of the rope to create the friction necessary to impart the required pull on the rope. Should the operator foul the spinning rope or becomeentangled himself, a serious accident may result before the draw-works controls may be reached.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a spinning drum in combination with a cathead with the drum being driven through a friction clutch actuated by the operator. With such an arrangement the spinning line is attached to the spinning drum and the necessary friction is imparted to the drum through clutch control levers.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a combination cathead and spinner drum that is readily disconnected from the draw-works, thereby providing the necessary road clearance when the draw-works is being transported from one drilling location to another.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a v.draw-works equipped with a combination cathead and spinner drum embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail elevational view, partly in section, of the draw-works shaft coupler for demountably connecting the combination cathead and spinner drum.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view,

partly in section, of the combination cathead and spinner drum and its control levers.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4---4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention which employs a different clutch actuating mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the portions of the spinner drum, draw-works shaft, and shaft extension with the clutch actuating levers shown in disassembled spaced relation.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

i designates the power shaft of a draw-works indicated by the side frame 2. A cathead is usually keyed to the projecting end of the shaft so that the spinning rope used in breaking and making up of the stands of drill pipe may be wrapped around the cathead and the end held by the operator to effect the necessary pull on the rope incidental to rotation of the draw-works shaft. The usual cathead creates a hazard as above pointed out, and has the further disadvantage in that it increases the over-all width of the draw-works so that it projects beyond the width allowed for road clearance when the drawworks is being, moved from one location to another. The cathead must, therefore, be removed and removal thereof is usually a difficult operation for the reason that it is secured by a tapered key driven tightly into place, Another disadvantage is that removal of the key often results in damage to the shaft.

In lieu of the conventional structure, I provide the shaft I with a coupling member 3 having a hub 4 which is secured by a tapered wedge 5 driven into registering keyways 6 and l of the hub and shaft respectively. The coupling also includes a circumferential flange 8 having an annular shoulder 9 on the face thereof to center a mating coupling member 10. The mating memher in includes a flange II having a recess 12 on the face thereof to engage the annular shoulder so that a shaft extension l3 carried thereby is centere relatively to the shaft of the drawworks, and secured by stud bolts t4, the studs being anchored in threaded sockets I5 within the flange II and extending through registering openings IS in the flange 8 to mountnuts H by which the flanges are drawn into clamping contact.

The shaft extension includes offset portions l8, l9 and 20 forming stop shoulders 2| and 22 .therebetween, Formed in the smaller and outer offset portion 20 is a roove or way 23 for a key 24 which secures a. conventional cathead 25 in fixed relation with the shaft extension. The cathead 25 includes a cylindrical drum portion 26 on which a spinning rope is usually mounted and which is retained from end displacement by drum flanges 21 and 28. The drum portion 26 has internal annular hubs 29 and." provided with axial bores snugly engaging the outer offset portion of the shaft extension, and which are tion of. the sliding clutch plate.

outer end of the shaft extension has a reduced threaded stud 32 which mounts a thrust washer 33, a draw-nut 34 by which the thrust washer is moved into engagement with .the outer hub, and a lock nut 35 as clearly shown in Fig. 3. When the cathead is thus mounted on the shaft extension the inner end engages against the shoulder 22 and cooperates with the thrust washer to retain the cathead against longitudinal movement with respect to the shaft.

The flange 28 is of larger diameter than the flange 21 and mounts a friction ring 36 adapted to frictionally engage the face 31 of a spinner drum 38, now to be described. The spinner drum is normally, freely rotatable on the portion I9 of the shaft extension and is carried on antifriction by oil sealing rings 4I and 42 in cooperation with spacer sleeves 43 and 44 which are sleeved upon the shaft extension, the inner spacer sleeve 43 engaging against the shoulder 2I and the outer spacer sleeve 44 against the end face of the cathead, as shown in Fig. 3.

The spinner drum also includes flanges 415 and 46 of larger diameter than the flange 28 to respectively form the friction surface 3? and a friction surface 41 which is adapted to be engaged by a sliding clutch plate 46. Fixed within the angle of the hub portion of the spinner and the flange is a line holder 49 to which the end of the spinner line is connected when setting up and breaking drillpipe joints, as later described.

The clutch plate 48 also has a friction ring 50 secured thereto to engage the flange 46. The clutch plate also includes a hub 5i that is slidably mounted upon the portion l8 of the shaft extension so that it is movable to and from the spinner drum. Projecting from the clutch plate are pairs of ears 52 carrying fulcrum pins 53, each mounting a' short lever 54, the inner ends 55 of which engage pins 56 that are slidably supported within registering openings 51 and 58 of the coupling flanges 8 and II, while the outer ends of the short levers engage adjusting screws 59 that are carried by long levers 60. The levers 60 are pivotally mounted on fulcrum pins 6 carried by ears 62 projecting from the outer face of the flange I I, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the inner ends 63 thereof engage against the hub porscrews are threadedly mounted in the ends of the longer levers 60 and are retained in adjusted position by jam-nuts 64 threaded thereon. The levers thus arranged act to compound the leverage exerted on the clutch plate incidental to actuation of the slidable pins. The opposite ends of the slidable pins 56 have reduced extensions 65 engaged in sockets 66 of a shifting collar 67, the portion 65 of the pins forming annular shoulders which are retained against the shaft collar by set screws 68, the set screws being threaded into radial openings 69 in the collar and engaging against the reduced portion 65 of the pins. The clutch collar includes a bushing I0 slidably mounted upon the hub 4 of the coupling member 3 and the periphery thereof is provided with an 'annular groove II. Engaged in the groove H are arcuate shoes 12 that are carried in the forked ends I3 of a shifting yoke I4, the shoes being retained by pivot screws I5 having shanks threaded into the shoes and secured by jam-nuts I6 as shown in Fig. 4. The pivot screws also have bearing portions pivoted in the forks of the shift lever. The shifting lever also includes a depend- The adjusting provided with ways 3| engaging the key 24. The

' bearings 39 retained in the hub 40 of the drum ing arm 11 having its lower end pivotally connected by a cross-pin 18 with cars 19 projecting from a bracket plate carried from the side frame of the draw-works.

Pivoted on the ends of a cross-pin 8| extending through the upper portion of the arm 11 are plate-like arms 82 and 83 having outwardly ex- .tending ends 84 carrying a brake shoe 86 therebetween. The brake shoe is adjustably supported by the arms on bolts 81 and 88 extending through slots 89 and 90 in the respective plates and through registering openings in an arm 9| carrying the shoe, so that it may be adjusted to engage the periphery of the drum flange 46 as shown by the dotted lines in Fig, 3 when the clutch is released. The plate-like arms have tail portions 92 projecting from the offset side of the shifting yoke and connect by a pin 93 with a bell crank 94. The bell crank 94 has one arm 95 pivotally connected by a pin 96 with ears 91 carried on the bracket plate 80 at a point above the ears 19 as shown in Fig. 1. The tails 92 of the arms 82 and 83 cooperate with the arms 95 of the bellcrank to form a toggle to multiply pressure on the friction faces of the clutch elements. The other arm 98 of the bell crank projects downwardly and is connected by a pin 99 with a clevis I 00 on the end of an actuating rod IOI The lower end of the rod terminates in a yoke I02 having arms I03 engaging the respective sides of a universal joint block I04 which itself is pivotally supported on a pin I05 carried by the spaced ears I06 projecting from the end of a hand lever I08. The hand lever I08 is pivotally mounted between lugs I09 and H0 projecting from one of the ears '19 with the pivotal connection being formed by apin I I I extending through the lugs and through the lever.

Formed on the outer end of the lever I08 is a handle portion H2 whereby the operator may grasp the lever to efiect shifting of the clutch as later described. Connected with the lever by a clamp H3 is a link Ii 4 having its other end pivotally connected with a foot lever H5 which is pivoted in a suitable bracket II6 carried by the side frame of the draw-works as shown in Fig. 1. Fixed to the lever plates carrying the brake is a yoke IIi carrying spaced rods H8 and H9 slidably movable through openings in studs I20 and I2I extending laterally from the respective sides of the arm 11. Sleeved on the rods and having one end engaging the studs and their opposite ends against washers I22 are springs I23 and I24, the washers being retained against the springs by jam-nuts I26.

When the .mechanism thus described is mounted as a replacement on a conventional draw-works, the bracket plate 80 is spaced the required distance from the frame 2 by means of inserts I 28 that are placed between the plate 80 and a base plate I29 which is fixed to the frame 2 as shown in Fig. 1.

In using the combination cathead and spinner drum constructed and assembled as described, the end of the spinning rope is secured to the line holder 49 when the spinner drum is in idle condition. Upon operation of the draw-works, the shaft I is continuously rotated as is the shaft extension I3 and cathead 25. As long as the sliding clutch plate is disengaged from the spinner drum, the spinner drum will remain idle on the shaft, however, when the hand lever I08 is moved downwardly on its fulcrum pin III, the univeral block will be moved upwardly to shift the bell crank on its fulcrum 96. This movein the direction of the spinner drum so that the pins 55 slide within the bearing openings of the coupling flanges to press against theends 55 f the short levers 54. :The opposite ends of the levers 54 press against theadlusting screws 59 so that th long levers 50 are shifted in'th'e'direction of the flange II to cause-the lower ends thereof to-press against the hub of the clutch collar to effect movement of the clutch plate into frictional engagement withthe spinner drum and the spinner drum into frictional engagement with the'friction ring on the flange 28 of the cathead. The spinner drum then begins to rotate with the shaft to exert'pull on the spinner rope. When the actuating lever is released, :the parts reverse their movement todisengage the clutch. Reversed movement of the bell crank shifts the brake carrying levers on the shifting yoke so that the shoe carried thereby is moved into braking engagement with the flange 45 of the spinner drum under action of the-springs land I24. I

Shouldthe spinner rope become fouled or endanger the operator, the operator may merely release his hold on the actuating lever I88 so that the clutch plate disengages and power rotation of the winding drum is stopped. Variable frictional pressure may be applied on the drum to effect the desired rotation thereof. If desired the clutch may be engaged by means of the foot lever H5 or both levers may be used together. V Y When thedraw-works is to be transported fromone location to another, the pivot screws of the shifting yoke may be, removed to disengage relation therewith by'a spline I43 engageablef in a spline groove I50 formed in the bore of the hub I5I ofthe'clutch plate. Extending lateral-, ly fromthe clutch plate are ears I52 pivotally mounting short levers I53. Also splined on the section I44 and engaging against the shoulder I54 that is formedbe'tween the" bearing portions I44 and I43 isa ring I55 having laterally extending ears I55 pivotally mounting long levers I51.

The inner ends I58 of the levers I51- engage I against the hub I5I of the clutch and the outer ends thereof carry set screws I59 engaging 'against the outer ends. I50 of the short levers I53. The inner ends of the short levers I53 have cam-like heads I5I engaged by actuatmg pins I82. 'The pins I52 are carried by the collar I35 and are movable through openings I83 in the long levers I51. Thus when the collar I35 is shifted on the bearing portion I43, the short 1evers I53 are rocked to effect movement of the --long levers I51, which in turn press against the hub of the clutch plate to force the clutch plate the shoes from the shifting collar. The shifting .collar may then he slid retractively from engagement with the hub of the coupling to withdraw the pins from their hearing openings in the coupling flanges. The nuts I1 are then removed from the stud bolts so that the entire combination cathead, spinner drum and shaft extension assembly may be removed as a unit from the of clutch actuating mechanism and shifting collar shown in Figs. 5 to '7 inclusive.- In this form Therefore, it would 1 I54 which is identical in construction to the shift yoke 14 described in the first form of the invention.

The yoke actuating mechanism is not illustrated in connection with the modified form of invention but may be of the same construction as the mechanism shown and describedin connection with the first form of the invention.

With the modified form it is clearly obvious that the shaft extension, being of smaller diameter, may mound a relatively small diameter clutch actuating collar so that it is more readily shifted on the shaft than would be a large diameter collar applied to the hub of the coupling I48. The flange of the spinning drum adjacent the clutch collar I is slidably supported on the shaft extension I31. The shaft extension has a flange I38 which isof sufficient diameter to engage the flange I39 on the hub I48 which is splined to the draw-works shaft I4I. The flanges are connected by cap screws I42. The shaft extension may be of smaller diameter than the draw-works shaft and includes stepped bearing portions I43and I44 and a reduced extension I45 on which the cathead I45 is secured in the same manner-as the cathead shown in the first form of the invention. The spinning drum I41 is of substantially the same construction as the first form of spinningdrum and is rotatablymounted on the bearing portion I44 of the shaft extension. The clutch I48 which is equiv-- the clutch plate I48 may be provided with a ringlike shroud I to house the clutch lever mech anism as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a combination cathead and spinner drum'which isv safe to operate in that it is not necessary for the operator to hold the end of the spinner rope, and should he become entangled with the rope, or the rope become fouled, the spinner drum is readily released from driving engagement with the shaft merely by releasing pressure on the clutch actuating lever. It is also obvious that the cathead and spinner assembly is readily removed toprovide road clearance, without'injuring the draw-works shaft since there are no keys to be drawn.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1

1. In combination with. a shaft of a drawworks, a coupling member fixed to the end of said shaft, a shaft extension including a .complementary coupling member, means interconnecting said coupling members tocenteringly'retain the shaft extension with respect to the drawworks shaft, a spinning drumrotatable on the shaft extension, a friction clutch slidable on the shaft extension for driving said spinning drum, a clutch actuating'means slidably supported on said coupling members, a collar connected with said slidable means and mounted on the first coupling member, a shifting fork connected with the collar, means pivotally supporting the shifting fork, and means for actuating the shifting fork.

. necting the pins with the clutch, a collar connected with the pins, a, shifting fork connected with the collar, means pivotally supporting the shifting fork, av brake mechanism carried on the shifting fork for engagement with the spinning drum, and means for actuating the shifting fork including said brake mechanism.

3. In combination with a shaft of a drawworks, a coupling member fixed to the end of said shaft, a shaft extension including a complementary coupling member, means interconnecting said coupling members to centeringly retain the shaft extension with respect to the draw-works shaft, a spinning drumrotatable on the shaft extension, a clutch supported on the shaft extension and having engagement with said spinning drum, clutch actuating pins slidably supported by said coupling members, means connecting the pins with the clutch, a collar connected'with. the pins, a shifting fork connected with the collar, means pivotally supporting the shifting fork, a supporting bracket, a toggle mechanism connecting the shifting fork with the supporting bracket, and operating means connected with the toggle mechanism for moving the shifting fork to effect driving engagement of said clutch with the spinning drum.

4. In combination with a shaft of a drawworks, a coupling member fixed to the end of said shaft, a shaft extension including a complementary coupling member, means interconnecting said coupling members to centeringly retain the shaft extension with respect to the draw-works shaft, a cathead fixed on the shaft extension, a spinning drum rotatable on the shaft extension and adapted to frictionally engage the cathead, friction means on the shaft extension engageable with the spinning drum, actuating pins slidably supported by said coupling members and havin connection with said friction means, a collar connected with the pins, a shifting fork connected 2. In combination with "a shaft of a draw with the collar, means pivotally supporting the shifting fork, a supporting bracket, a toggle mechanism connecting the shifting fork with the supporting bracket, and operating means connected with the toggle mechanism for moving the shifting fork to effect driving connection of said 1 friction means with the spinning drum and frictional contact of the spinning drum with said cathead.

5. In combination with a draw-works shaft, a shaft extension having stepped bearing portions forming an annular shoulder, therebetween, a flange carried by the shaft extension in spaced relation with said shoulder, a hub on the drawworks shaft having a mating flange, fastening devices connecting said flanges, a spinning drum rotatably mounted on the smaller of said hearing portions, a clutch slidably keyed on said bearing portion carrying the spinning drum, an :actuating collar slidable on the other bearing portion, a ring engaging said shoulder, lever mech-- anism connecting the ring with the clutch, and

pins on said collar to engage the lever mechanism for effecting engagement of the clutch with the winding drum.

6. In combination with a shaft -of a drawworks, a coupling member fixed to the endof the shaft, a shaft extension including a complementary coupling member, means interconnecting said-coupling members to centeringly retain the shaft extension with respect to the draw-works shaft, a cathead fixed on the outer end of the shaft extension, a spinning drum rotatable onthe shaft extension and adapted to frictionaliy engage the cathead, friction means on the shaft extension engageable with the spinning drum, a collar slidably keyed onthe shaft extension and having connection with the friction means, a shifting fork connected with the collar, means pivotally supporting the shifting fork, a supporting bracket carried by the draw-works, a toggle mechanism connecting the shifting fork with the supporting bracket, operating means connected with the toggle/mechanism for shifting the fork to effect driving connection of said friction means with the spinning drum and frictional contact of the spinning drum with the cathead, and a brake supported on the shifting fork for engaging the spinning drum and having operating connection with said toggle mechanism.

'7'. In combination with a shaft of a draw-works, a coupling member fixed to the end of said shaft, a shaft extension including a complementary coupling member, means interconnecting said coupling members to centeringly retain the shaft extension with respect to the draw-work shaft, a spinning drum rotatable on the shaft extension, a clutch supported on the shaft extension and having driving engagement with said spinning drum, clutch actuating pins slidably supported by said coupling members, means operably connecting the pins with the clutch, a collar connected with the pins, a shifting fork connected with the collar, means pivotally supporting the shifting fork, a supporting bracket, toggle mechanism connecting the shifting fork with the supporting "bracket, a brake member on the toggle mechanism for engagement with the spinning drum, and operating means connected with the toggle mechanism for moving the shifting fork to effect driving engagement of said clutch with the spinning drum and for releasing said braking mechanism. I i

8. In combination with a shaft of a draw-works, a spinning drum assembly including a shaft extension, means detachably connecting the shaft extension with the draw-works shaft, a spinning drum rotatable on the shaft extension, a clutch supported on the shaft extension and having driving engagement with the spinning drum, a collar operatively connected to said clutch and slidable relatively to the axis of said shafts, a shifting fork connected with the collar, means pivotally supporting the shifting fork. a supporting bracket adapted for attachment to the draw-works, a toggle mechanism connecting the shifting fork with the supporting bracket, a brake member on the toggle mechanism for engagement with the spinning drum, and operating means connected with the toggle mechanism for moving the shifting fork to effect driving engagement of the clutch with the spinning drum and for releasing said brake mechanism.

9. In combination with a draw-works including a frame and a solid shaft rotatably supported by the frame and having an end projecting only a. short distance from said frame, a spinning drum assembly including a spinning drum, a friction clutch for driving the spinning drum, a solid shaft member carrying the spinning drum for rotatable support thereon and slidably supporting the clutch for movement to and from driving relation with the spinning drum, coupling means removably connecting the shaft member in abutting axial alignment with the projecting end of the drawworks shaft with the spinning drum and clutch in overhanging relation with the projecting end of the draw-works shaft, slidable clutch actuating means carried by said shaft member, and clutch operating means on the frame detachably connected with the clutch actuating means.

10. In combination with a draw-works including a frame and a solid shaft rotatably supported by the frame and having an end projecting only a. short distance from said frame, a spinning drum assembly including a spinning drum, a friction clutch for driving the spinning drum, 9. solid shaft member carrying the spinning drum for rotatable support thereon and slidably supporting the clutch for movement to and from driving relation with the spinning drum, coupling means removably connecting the shaft member in abutting axial alignment with the projecting end of the draw-works shaft with the spinning drum and clutch in overhanging relation with the projecting end of the draw-works shaft, slidable clutch actuating means carried by said shaft member, clutch operating means on the frame detachably connected with the clutch actuating means, and a conventional cathead mounted on the shaft member.

BENJAMIN F. KELLEY. 

